AXN Responds to ban in India

Mumbai, Jan 24 (UNI) In an effort to resolve the ban imposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India on the distribution of AXN in the country recently, the company has issued an apology to the Government of India for AXN's alleged violations of Indian content restrictions.

An official statement issued by Sony Pictures Television International here today said the AXN has agreed to put in place a significantly improved and more effective system of self-regulation in order to ensure that programmes and advertisements telecast on AXN do not create further problems in the future.

The Ministry of Information&Broadcasting of India (MIB) had imposed a ban on the distribution of AXN in India on January 17, this year which is based on programmes and advertisements that had been previously exhibited on AXN in India.

The company has admitted that the ban imposed by the MIB against AXN is based upon legal procedures contained in India's Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.

AXN is actively cooperating with the Government of India in order to find a resolution to the current situation.

The company is delivering top rated series like blockbuster features, adventure-reality and first-run lifestyle sports programming. It is a leading international television destination among young adults 18-34. AXN is seen in 50 countries across Asia, Latin America, Europe and the West Asia, and is part of Sony Pictures Television International's diverse portfolio of over 40 global networks. Sony Pictures Television International is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company, the release added.

UNI